Pot boil-over prevention device

ABSTRACT

A boil-over prevention device is provide which is adapted to a bottom surface to engage the rim of the sidewall surrounding the open end of a pot. A top surface of the body of the device curves around to redirect escaping fluid streams from the pot, to a distal edge of the ramp and back into the open end of the pot.

This application is a continuation in part application to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/382,497 filed on Dec. 16, 2016 which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/268,355,filed on Dec. 16, 2015, both of which are incorporated herein in theirrespective entirety by this reference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to kitchen utensils for cooking. Moreparticularly the disclosed device and method relates to a removablyengageable device adapted for operative engagement positioned betweenconventional cookware such as cooking pots, and pot lids, to an as-usedposition wherein the device prevents spillage from boiling liquidswithin the pot.

2. Prior Art

Cooking throughout the world employs pots and pans which are configuredfor positioning over a heat source such as a gas or electric burner. Itis widely known that many cooking processes include the propensity ofthe food being cooked to suddenly form bubbling or foam layers at thefood or liquid surface while being cooked with cookware such as pots. Asa consequence, unless such cooking processes are constantly monitored,the rapidly rising foam or liquid layers can overcome the rim of any potof practical dimensions. This can occur whether a lid is engaged overthe pot or not. Such an occurrence results in the overflow onto thestove, counter, floor or user, of hot liquid and food.

An incidence of scalding, hot liquid escaping the confines of a cookingutensil results in a number of potential problems and none aredesirable. At best, the escaping liquid will cover the stove and oncecooled will require a difficult cleaning of multiple surfaces of thestove and burner. More significantly, escaping hot liquids can causeserious injury to persons adjacent the pot. As a consequence, suchliquid and food overflows are messy, waste food, pose burning andslipping risks, and can create noxious odors if they come in contactwith flames.

To date, such overflow incidences have been primarily avoided throughcareful control of the application of heat to the cooking vessel basedvarious considerations of the user concerning the cooking liquids, potsizes and configurations, and burner capabilities. This technique,however, is unreliable and requires considerable experience andknowledge of the specific utensils. Further, it requires ongoingdiligence by the user on the cooking vessel during use. Such diligenceis easily dissuaded in a busy kitchen which frequently misdirects userattention. As such, there is a constant threat of a boil over of theproverbial unwatched pot.

Although several overboiling prevention devices are currently available,such means are often cumbersome to the cooking process, are difficult toemploy and clean. Further, such devices are not configurable foradaptation to operatively engage a large range of pot and lid shapes andsizes.

As such, there is an unmet need for an overboil prevention device whichis employable irrespective of the attention of the user, to prevent foodand liquid from boiling over an unwatched pot. Such a device should beconfigurable to be adapted for removable engagement whereby it is easilyaffixed to and removed from a large range of pot sizes and designs.Further, such a device, once engaged to an as-used position on the potof choice, should not be a physical impediment to use of the pot whichwould overburden the user during cooking.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The device herein disclosed and described achieves the above-mentionedgoals through the preventing of overboiling of liquids and food from apot or pan during heating on a cooking surface such as a stove burner.The device has an annular or ring-like body surrounding an opening, andthe body is configured with a first or bottom surface which is adaptedfor engagement with the rim or distal edge of the sidewall of a pot toan engaged or as-used positioning.

So located on the rim, with the opening through the annular body axiallyaligned with a surrounding, the open end of the pot defined by the rim,the body of the device on a top or second surface, has an annularsurface edge portion which is adapted for operative positioning of thelid for the pot to which the body is engaged. So positioned in asandwiched engagement between the distal edge of the pot sidewall andthe lid, the body of the device allows normal use of the pot or pan forcooking with virtually no extra effort on the part of the user toaccommodate it. In this as-used or operative positioning, the body ofthe device is configured with a curved interior surface wall whichcurves outwardly beyond the sidewall and back toward the interior of thepan. This curvature has been found in experimentation to form a rampwhich employs the force of the exiting fluid stream to project it backinto the pot. It also provides an annular reservoir surrounding andelevated above the top of the rim, which will hold any overflow andthereby will prevent boiling and foaming liquid in the pot from spillingout of the pot while cooking.

The device has the body formed as an annular ring surrounding anopening, which may be sized and adapted for engagement to accommodateone, or a specific range of pot diameters. In this fashion, one of aplurality of multiple size configurations of the device can be employedwhile employing any size of commercially available pots. In onepreferred configuration of the device, the body of the device is adaptedfor engagement to the annular distal edge of the sidewall of a pot in afashion which includes both an exterior fastening surface and aninterior fastening surface, both of which are provided to frictionallyadhere to opposing side surfaces of the sidewall of a pot and hold thelid.

The bottom or first surface of the annular body of the device in thismode, is adapted in configuration to adhere to distal edge or rim of thesidewall and outer edge of any pot, which has a pot diameter between aset given range. This mode of engagement of the body to the pot is in acorresponding device size and formed of an elastic and heat resistantmaterial such as silicone or neoprene, which will elongate duringengagement and form an elastic or frictional fit removable connection tothe pot. The bottom surface of the body is adapted to engage the rim ofthe pot with an annular cavity. The height, thickness, and cavity shapeof the exterior fastening surface should be sized such that the devicecan accommodate pots with rolled, flanged or flat rims positioned at thedistal end of the sidewall of the intended pot.

When the body of the device is formed to elastically enlarge andcontract to a biased engagement with the exterior of the rim,preferably, the height and thickness of the annular exterior fasteningsurface should be between 1% and 7%, and 0.5% and 4% of the pot diameterrespectively. Additionally, in this elastic and size adaptive mode ofthe device, an interior fastening surface, which provides increasedadhesion to the sidewall by frictional engagement with interior faceadjacent the rim of the pot, can be provided. As conventional pot lidsare conventionally designed with an outer diameter or flange adapted forengagement and securement to an interior surface edge at thecircumference surrounding the open end of the pot, the top or secondsurface of the annular body of the device adjacent the interiorcircumference thereof, should be adapted with an upward slanting surfaceor a ledge to accommodate proper positioning of the lid. This ledge orslanting surface leads to the curved surface providing the means to holdand redirect fluid flow back into the pot.

The annular body of the device may be adapted on the first or lowerside, with a fastening surface sized for easy connection to one or aplurality of pots. Such, as noted, can be through an elastic engagementwith the exterior of the sidewall of the pot, or a slot formed into thebottom surface adapted to engage both sides of the sidewall at the rim.Alternatively, a plurality of such slots may be formed in concentricsequentially larger sized circles, to allow the body to engage a pothaving a diameter where the rim or distal edge of the sidewall, issubstantially the same as one of the diameter of one of the slots. Suchwill allow the body of the device to engage a much larger number ofdifferent diameter pots.

In all modes, with the body in the as-used position engaged with therim, the body of the device should be formed of a material and shapewhich concurrently maintains durability through repeated use whilewithstanding the weight and force of the lid. The surface of the annularbody of the device should be adapted to easy and snugly connect whileaccommodating a range of pot and lid straight, folded or flanged rimdesigns.

In all preferred modes of the device herein, the annular bodysurrounding the opening, has a curved protrusion which forms a curvedsurface and ramp upon the upper surface of the body.

This curved ramp extends from an annular edge portion surrounding theopening on the top surface for supporting the lid, in a first directionaway from the open end of said pot. At a central portion of the formedramp, it is curved to extend in a second direction running toward openend of said pot, to a distal edge of the ramp which defines acircumference of the opening the body surrounds. This redirects anyfluid escaping from the open end of the pot in a direction outside oraway from the rim and open end, back into the open end of the pot.

The ramp curves to an elevation above the rim from the engagement of thebody at the rim edge, and extends to a distal edge of the ramp which ispreferably at or overhanging a line running from the pot sidewall. Asnoted, the curve of the upper surface forming the ramp and elevationabove the sidewall to the distal edge of the formed ramp in thisfashion, is sized and shaped to catch and redirect overflowing fluidstreams and use their exiting force to direct them back into the pot.Such a curved configuration of the top or facing surface of the annularbody, is thereby configured to prevent the bubbles and boiling liquidfrom such exiting fluid streams from rising past the circumferentialedge of the curved portion, and prevent spillage during cooking.

In experimentations with differing curved designs it was found thatsignificantly improved results were achieved when the curved protrusionis sized with a height of between 15% and 5% of the diameter of the pot.Additionally, the distal edge of the curved protrusion should terminateat a point above the rim at line extending from the sidewall to renderthe circumference of the opening through the body, formed at the distaledge of the ramp, easy to fit the lid through during use. The distaledge of the ramp can terminate a distance from the outer edge of thepot, making that circumference larger than that of the lid, bypositioning the distal edge a distance from a line running through andabove the sidewall, between 5% and 15% of the height of the curvedprotrusion and at a tangential angle of between 25 and 60 degrees fromthe vertical axis. Finally, it has been found in experimentation thatthe ramp, so formed, works well to redirect the fluid stream from thepot, under force, if the inner radius of the ramp formed on the curvedprotrusion of the device is between 30% and 65% of the height of thecurved protrusion.

Employing a preferred elastic mode of the body of the device, asdescribed herein, engagement is accomplished when the user expands thefastening surface, or the slot depending into the bottom surface, to fitupon or around the rim of the intended pot and presses downwards on thedevice so that the fastening surface engages with the exterior of therim and with the interior surface if a slot is employed. The user canthen optionally place the lid atop the top surface of the body and beginto cook. If liquid within the pot overboils, the pressurized fluidstream will automatically unseat the lid, and bubbles will contact andbe suppressed and redirected by the ramp of the body of the device.

In one preferred mode of the device, a configuration eliminates the needfor an interior fastening feature and relies solely on the elastic andfrictional forces from the exterior fastening feature against the outercircumference of the pot and the outer pot rim to maintain adhesion. Aspot and lid engagement means may vary, this mode of the device offersmore universal application through eliminating any interaction with thelid. The sizing of the exterior fastening feature and the curvedprotrusion, and the application and use of the device in its first andsecond preferred modes are identical.

In all preferred modes, the body of the device should be composed of anelastic and substantially flexible, heat resistant and waterproofmaterial such as one or a combination of plastic, silicone, neoprene,polymeric material or rubber. For a mode of the device which is fixed insize to engage a single sized pot, the body may be formed of a nonelastic material that is heat resistant such as heat resistant polymericmaterial, wood, or even metal such as aluminum or stainless steel or thelike.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide the device to be adapted inconfiguration to easily and operatively engage to a pot and thereafterprevent overboiled bubbles and fluid streams from spilling duringcooking.

It is an object of this invention to form the device with a body whichwill a accommodate a large range of pots and lid sizes and designs.

These together with other objects and advantages which becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of the construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout.

With respect to the above description, before explaining at least onepreferred embodiment of the herein disclosed invention in detail, it isto be understood that the invention is not limited in its application tothe details of construction and to the arrangement of the components inthe following description or illustrated in the drawings. The inventionherein described is capable of other embodiments and of being practicedand carried out in various ways which will be obvious to those skilledin the art. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology andterminology employed herein are for the purpose of description andshould not be regarded as limiting.

As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conceptionupon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basisfor designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying outthe several purposes of the present disclosed device. It is important,therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalentconstruction and methodology insofar as they do not depart from thespirit and scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING FIGURES

FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of the device in an as-usedpositioning, with the first or lower surface operatively engaged withthe rim of a pot during use.

FIG. 2 shows a cross sectioned view of one preferred mode of the deviceshowing the first or lower side of the body adapted to engage a rimsurrounding an open end of a pot with a slot, and the curved ramp on theopposite second side of the body.

FIG. 3 displays a sectioned view of the a preferred mode of the devicewherein the first or lower surface is adapted to engage the rim of thepot by contact with only one side of the sidewall of the pot in anelastic biased engagement.

FIG. 4 shows an array of the device herein, where each is formed of abody which is adapted to engage a rim of specific pot diameter sizes.

FIG. 5 shows another mode of the device where the first side of the bodyis adapted with a plurality of annular slots of differing diameters forengaging pots with matching diameters.

FIG. 6 depicts the device in a mode similar to that of FIGS. 2-3 havinga first surface adapted to engage a pot sidewall wherein a ledge may beprovided at the base of the curved protrusion on the top or secondsurface, which is adapted for positioning of a lid thereon with thedevice in the as-used position of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is an overhead view of the second surface or top of the body ofthe device showing a substantially planar annular edge portion adaptedfor positioning of the lid of the pot thereon which surrounds theopening communicating through the body.

FIG. 8 depicts a view of the first surface or bottom of the body of thedevice of FIG. 6-7, showing the body having an annular projection havingan interior wall surface defining the opening through the body in thesame fashion as that of FIGS. 2 and 3 and having an exterior wallsurface which tapers toward the inner wall surface to form narrowedportion of the body.

FIG. 9 shows a view of the first surface or bottom of the body similarto that of FIG. 8, but have two tapering portions of the exterior wallsurface to form two narrowed portions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings of FIGS. 1-9, there is seen in FIG. 1, thedevice 10 in an as-used positioning where the first side or lower sideis in operative engagement with the distal end or rim of the sidewall ofa conventional pot 18. In all modes, the device 10 is engaged to thisas-used position with the annular body 15 surrounding the open end ofthe pot 18, being configured on a first or lower side, to operativelyconnect to the rim or distal edge of the sidewall 17. So positioned, asnoted above, the body 15 of the device 10 is configured on the second ortop side to redirect exiting fluid streams back into the open end of thepot 18 through a central opening communicating through the body 15 whichmay be covered by the lid 20.

As shown in FIG. 1, the device 10 has a body 15 adapted to to removablyengage with the pot 18 and to interface between the conventional pot 18and a lid 20. So positioned, the body 15 surrounds the open end of thepot 18 and is shaped to prevent boiling liquid or a fluid stream exitingthe open end of the pot 18, from spilling out of the pot while cooking.

The device 10 may have a body 15 which is sized to accommodate any in aspecific range of pot 18 circumferences, using a body 15 formed ofelastic material, or it may be configured with multiple diameter body 15configurations which are adapted in diameter for the body 15 to engagewith pots 18 having a rim diameter of a particular size which surroundsthe open end of the pot 18 which the lid 20 may cover such as in FIG. 4.In all modes, in the as-used positioning, the opening 19 communicatingthrough the annular body 15, will be axially aligned with the open endof the pot 18 which is surrounded by the rim 16.

Shown in FIG. 2, is one preferred configuration of the body 15 of thedevice 10, which is adapted on a first or lower side, with at least oneslot 21 depending therein. In this mode, the annular body 15 has anannular slot 21 depending into the first surface or bottom which isadapted to contact opposing sides of the sidewall 17 at the rim 23 whichdefines the diameter of the pot 18. As depicted, the slot 21 dependsinto the first surface of the body 15 and has an interior contactsurface 16 to frictionally adhere to the interior of the sidewall 17 ofthe pot 18 as well as an exterior contact surface 14 which contacts theopposing side of the sidewall 17. A second or upper surface 25 of thebody 15, opposite the first surface, is adapted for positioning of thelid 20 thereon.

The exterior fastening surface 14 allows the body 15 of the device 10 toremovably engage with the rim 23 and exterior surface of the sidewall 17of any pot 18, with a circumference which is within a range specifiedfor the specific corresponding body 15 circumference through an elasticstretched and biased engagement, or a or press fit if the slot 21circumference is substantially equal to the pot 18 circumference.

The height, thickness, and cavity shape of the slot 21 having theexterior fastening surface 14 per FIG. 2, should be sized such that thedevice 10 can accommodate pots 18 with rolled, flanged, or flat rims.

Additionally, in this preferred mode of the device 10 the interiorfastening surface 16 provides for increased adhesion to the sidewall 17adjacent the rim 23 of the pot 18. As most lids 20 are designed with anouter circumference or flange for engagement and securement to the rim23 or to an interior surface of the pot 18, an edge 22 may be positionedon the second surface 25 or top of the annular body 15 opposite thefirst surface or bottom of the body 15.

The body 15 when adapted on the bottom or first side with the slot 21,should be formed of material adapted to maintain durability through use,while withstanding the weight and force of the lid 20, while engagingthe sidewall 17 at the rim 23 and snugly accommodating a range of pot 18and lid 20 designs.

In all modes of the device 10 the body 15 is formed with a curvedprotrusion 12, extending above the top or second surface of the body 15.The curved protrusion 12 has a curved second portion of the uppersurface 25 portion of the body 15, which is sized and shaped to catchand redirect the fluid stream or overflowing bubbles, and prevent theboiling liquid from rising above the distal edge 27 of the curvedprotrusion 12. This annular distal edge 27 defines the innercircumference of the curved protrusion 12 portion positioned above therim 23 through which the lid 20 must pass during use.

In experimentation is was found that the curved protrusion 12 works wellif sized with a height 29 from the rim 23 to the distal edge 27, ofbetween 5% and 15% of the diameter of the pot 18. Additionally, thedistal edge 27 of the curved protrusion 12 should terminate at adistance at a point substantially inline with the rim 23 and sidewall 17of the pot 18, or no more than a distance outside the sidewall 17 ofbetween 5% and 15% of the height of the curved protrusion 12.

Further, in all preferred modes of the device herein a ramp 31 isdefined on the curved upper surface 25 portion of curved protrusion 12extending from the body 15 running on the inner radius of the curvedprotrusion 12 of the body 15 of the device 10. The ramp 31 terminates atthe distal edge 27 of the curved protrusion 12 which as noted works wellif aligned with the line running through the sidewall 17 above the rim23, or spaced slightly outside the sidewall 17 as noted above. Thisforms an inner circumference of the body 15 at the distal end of thecurved protrusion 12, which allows for easy passage of the circumferenceof the lid 20 therethrough. However, if the body 15 is formed offlexible material, the end of the ramp 31 at the distal edge 27 can belocated above an area within the confines of the pot 18 sidewall 17.While the interior circumference might be smaller than the diameter ofthe lid 20, it would easily stretch for movement of the lidtherethrough. Further, this would position the end of the ramp 31 abovethe interior for easier redirection of exiting fluid.

Employing the mode of the device 10 of FIG. 1, to operatively removablyengage the sidewall 17 of a pot adjacent the rim 23 for example, asdescribed herein, the user expands the body 15 to engage around theexterior of the sidewall 17 or to position the slot 21 and exteriorfastening surface 14 to fit around and on the rim 23 of the intended pot18 and presses downward on the body 15 of the device 10 so that thesidewall is engaged by an interior surface or the slot 21 engages withthe rim 23 and inner diameter of the pot 18. The user can thenoptionally place the lid 20 upon the upper surface 25 of the body 15while cooking.

In all modes herein, if liquid within the pot 18 overboils, the pressurewill generate a forced fluid stream which will automatically slightlyunseat the lid 20, and fluid and bubbles will be forced up the ramp 31defined by the curved portion of the surface 25 to the distal edge 27thereof, where the direction of the moving fluid has been changed andredirected back toward the interior of the pot 18. The curved surface 25or second surface of the body 15, extending from adjacent pot rim 23, tothe distal edge 27, also forms a fluid reservoir “R” shown as the areabetween line 29 and the curved surface 25. This reservoir R, will holdany fluid falling on the lid and running toward the reservoir R, and letit drain back into the pot 18 by draining between the lid 20 and top andcurved surface 25 or the annular planar edge portion, if present. Thefluid will pass through small gaps present between all lids 20 and thesurface 25, which tend to become larger, if pressure builds in the pot18, and slightly lifts the lid 20.

Another preferred mode of the device 10, operating with the sameoperation of a ramp 31 and curved protrusion 12 is shown in FIG. 3. Thismode of the device 10 has a body 15 configuration which eliminates theneed for an interior fastening surface 16, and relies solely on theelastic bias and frictional forces from the biased contact of thesurface of the circumference of the inner wall defining the opening 19as a fastening surface 14 against the outer diameter of the sidewall 17of the pot 18 at or adjacent the outer pot 18 rim to maintain theremovable engagement.

Formed of an elastic heat resistant material, the body 15, in this mode,is adaptable as pot 18 and lid 20 engagements and sizes may vary. Thismode of the device 10 offers more universal application througheliminating any interaction with the lid 20, and providing a strongbiased engagement of surface of the opening 19 against the sidewall 17,when stretched over the rim 23 of a pot 18. The sizing and operation ofthe curved protrusion 12, and ramp 31 thereon defined on the uppersurface of the body 15, would be the same as above.

FIG. 5 shows another mode of the device 10 herein, which may have a body15 formed of non elastic material, or elastic material. As shown in FIG.5, a plurality of concentric slots 21 depend into the first or lowersurface of the body 12. Each slot 21 has a progressively larger sizefrom the adjacent slot 21 starting with one slot 21 that is engaged withthe rim 23. In this mode, the individual slots 21 can be cut in sizeshaving circumferences or diameters matching those individual pots 18,and in a non elastic mode, one body 15 will fit as many pots 18 as havea diameter matching that of one of the slots 21.

Alternatively, the body 15 may be formed of elastic material, and any ofthe plurality of slots 21, from the smallest to the largest, can bestretched to fit upon the rim 23 of a pot 18 having a diameter equal to,or slightly larger than, the slot 21 to which it engages. The uppersurface of the body 15 has the same curved surface 25 thereon and allowsfor seating of the lid 20 which will self-center on the downwardlyangled portion of the upper surface of the body 15. Alternatively, upperslots 33 can depend into the upper surface 25 and a lid 20 having amatching diameter to any upper slot 33, will settle therein.

In all preferred modes, the device 10 should be composed of anyflexible, heat resistant and waterproof materials from a group includingplastic, silicone, polymeric materials, neoprene, and rubber. Nonelastic modes of the body 15 may be formed of plastic, metal, or wood.

In FIG. 6 is shown the device 10 a mode similar to that of FIGS. 2-3having a first surface or bottom side of the body 15 adapted to engage apot sidewall 17. In a similar fashion to the above noted modes of thedevice 10 if FIGS. 2-3 and 5, the opening 19 communicates between thefirst surface of the body 15 which engages with the pot 18 and the topor second surface of the body 15. This opening 19 has a circumferencedefined by an opening wall 26 communicating between the bottom or firstside of the body 15 and the top or second side of the body 15.

Additionally shown are an annular edge 22 surrounding the opening 19which communicates between the bottom or first surface of the body 15and the top or second surface of the body 15. This edge 22, whenprovided, is preferably positioned at the base of the curved surface 25on the curved protrusion 12 extending from the second surface or top ofthe body 15, in the same fashion as the aforementioned modes of thedevice 10.

Shown in FIG. 7 is an overhead view of the top or second surface of thebody 15 of the device 10 showing the substantially planar annular edge22 portion adapted for positioning of the lid 20 of the pot 18 thereon.As shown, this annular edge 22 surrounds the opening 19 defined by theopening wall 26. The annular edge 22 has been found in experimentationto work well, having a width extending between the opening 19 andintersection with the base of the curved protrusion 12, of between ⅜ to⅝ inches, with a current width of substantially inch working well toseat the perimeter edge of a lid 20 positioned thereon. This annularedge 22 is preferably planar and either level or inclines at an anglefrom the side thereof adjacent to opening 19, toward and to the base ofthe curved protrusion 12. An inclining angle of five to ten degrees willwork well. So located the edge 22 is adapted for positioning of a lidthereon with the device 10 in the as-used position of FIG. 1.

In FIG. 8 as noted is shown a view of the first surface or bottom of thebody of the device of FIG. 6-7. As with the device 10 shown in FIGS. 2and 3 for example, the body 15 of the device 10 of FIG. 8 has an annularprojection 13 extending from the first surface or bottom thereof. Theopening 19 communicates through the body 15 from the second or topsurface to the first or bottom surface and as noted, has a diameterdefined by the opening wall 26 extending through the body 15.

In FIG. 8 is shown a recessed area 32 formed into the first surface ofthe body 15 such as for example in the exterior circumference of theannular projection 13. This recessed area 32 reduces the width of theannular projection 13 extending between the opening 19 and the exteriorcircumferential surface 32 of the annular projection 13. The recessedarea 32 can be included on the other disclosed modes of the device 10such as those of FIGS. 2-3. So positioned, this recessed area 32 wherethe width of the annular projection 13 extending from the first surfaceof the body 15 reduces the width thereof, provides room for the firstsurface to accommodate a handle of the pot 18. As shown, the recessedarea 32 formed only in the exterior circumference 34 of the annularprojection 13 fits between a handle of the pot 18 which may bepositioned adjacent the rim 23 shown in FIGS. 2-3. The diameter of theopening 19 is not changed which is preferred to allow the opening wall26 to form a good seal around the sidewall 17 of a pot 18 to which thedevice 10 engages.

Currently, a width of the annular projection 13 extending from the firstsurface or bottom of the body 15 as shown in FIGS. 2-3 and 8-9 issubstantially inch as measured between the exterior circumference 34 andthe intersection with the opening wall 26 defining the opening 19, inall areas but the recessed area 32. The recessed area 32, inexperimentation, has been shown to work well if formed with a widthbetween 3/16 of an inch to 5/16 of an inch and a current favored widthof the annular projection in recessed areas 32 being substantially 50%of that of the rest of the annular projection 13 or ¼ of an inch. It wasfound after testing, with a large number of pots 18 having handlesadjacent the rim 23, that even if ¼ inch was slightly wide, the body 15being formed of flexible material can compress slightly if needed. Assuch, a width of the annular projection 13 portion of the body 15projecting around the opening 18 from the first surface or bottom of thebody 15 in the current most preferred mode of the device 10 is ¼ of aninch.

Because some pots 18 are known to position two handles on opposite sidesof the pot 18, the device 10 can also be formed as shown in FIG. 9 withtwo opposing recesses 32 formed into the body 15 such as into theexterior circumference 34 of an annular projection 13 extending from thefirst or bottom surface of the body 15.

While all of the fundamental characteristics and features of theinvention have been shown and described herein, with reference toparticular embodiments thereof, a latitude of modification, variouschanges and substitutions are intended in the foregoing disclosure andit will be apparent that in some instances, some features of theinvention may be employed without a corresponding use of other featureswithout departing from the scope of the invention as set forth. Itshould also be understood that various substitutions, modifications, andvariations may be made by those skilled in the art without departingfrom the spirit or scope of the invention. Consequently, all suchmodifications, variations and substitutions are included within thescope of the invention as defined by the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A boil-over prevention apparatus comprising: anannular body, said annular body having a first surface and a secondsurface opposite said first surface; an opening, said opening having acircumference defined by an opening sidewall communicating between saidfirst surface and said second surface of said body; said first surfaceadapted to removably engage said body to a rim of a sidewall surroundingan open end of a pot, and thereby position said body in an as-usedposition; said opening in said body being axially aligned with said openend of said pot, with said body in said as-used position; an edgeportion on said second surface of said body, said edge portion extendinga width from a first edge thereof surrounding said opening to a secondedge thereof, said edge portion configured for positioning a surface ofa perimeter edge of a lid of said pot thereon; a curved ramp extendingfrom said second surface of said body adjacent said second edge of saidedge portion and curving in a first direction away from said open end ofsaid pot, said curved ramp curving from a central portion of said curvedramp to a distal edge of said curved ramp in a second direction runningtoward said open end of said pot; said distal edge of said ramp beingelevated a distance above said rim of said sidewall with said body insaid as-used position; and whereby a fluid stream of boiling liquidescaping from said open end of said pot is directed by said top surfacealong said curved ramp toward said open end of said pot therebypreventing an overflow of said fluid stream out of said pot.
 2. Theboil-over prevention apparatus of claim 1, wherein said annular body isconfigured with said distal edge of said ramp elevated above said rim ofsaid sidewall at a said distance which is between 5% and 15% of adiameter of the pot.
 3. The boil-over prevention apparatus of claim 2,wherein first surface is adapted to removably engage said body to saidrim of said sidewall by said body being formed of polymeric materialwhich is stretchable to form a removable engagement of said openingsidewall with said sidewall of said pot.
 4. The boil-over preventionapparatus of claim 3, wherein first surface has an annular projectionextending therefrom and said opening sidewall defines an innercircumference of said annular projection; said annular projection havingat least one recessed area formed into an exterior circumferencethereof; and said recessed area configured for positioning between ahandle of said pot and said sidewall of said pot when said body is insaid as-used position.
 5. The boil-over prevention apparatus of claim 4,wherein polymeric material forming said body is stretchable to form aremovable engagement with said rim of any of a plurality of said potswhere each has a differing respective sized said opening defined by saidrim.
 6. The boil-over prevention apparatus of claim 3, wherein polymericmaterial forming said body is stretchable to form a removable engagementwith said rim of any of a plurality of said pots where each has adiffering respective sized said opening defined by said rim.
 7. Theboil-over prevention apparatus of claim 1, wherein first surface isadapted to removably engage said body to said rim of said sidewall bysaid body being formed of polymeric material which is stretchable toform a removable engagement of said opening sidewall with said sidewallof said pot.
 8. The boil-over prevention apparatus of claim 7, whereinfirst surface has an annular projection extending therefrom and saidopening sidewall defines an inner circumference of said annularprojection; said annular projection having at least one recessed areaformed into an exterior circumference thereof; and said recessed areaconfigured for positioning between a handle of said pot and saidsidewall of said pot when said body is in said as-used position.
 9. Theboil-over prevention apparatus of claim 8, wherein polymeric materialforming said body is stretchable to form a removable engagement withsaid rim of any of a plurality of said pots where each has a differingrespective sized said opening defined by said rim.
 10. The boil-overprevention apparatus of claim 7, wherein polymeric material forming saidbody is stretchable to form a removable engagement with said rim of anyof a plurality of said pots where each has a differing respective sizedsaid opening defined by said rim.